Process and apparatus for forming and treating yarn



'Fgh-LIG, 1943.

L. c. GREENE 2,310,951

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND TREATING YARN Filed May 1, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 50 36' 53 3 8 3a 48 50 4s 5s 43 56 iii. 6| so lnven'for. LJoyd C.Greene b wwiw A ya.

Feb; 16, 1943. 1. c2. GREENE 2,310,951

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND TREATING YARN Filed May 1, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lnvenror. Uoyd C. Greene bymwif Patented Feb. 16, 1943 PROCESS APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND TREATING YARN Lloyd 0. Greene, Sanford, Maine Application May 1, 1941, Serial No. 391,305

39 Claims.

This invention relates to a process and apparatus for treating yarn with fluid during its formation in order that as the yarn is formed it may be brought to a required predetermined state or condition.

The invention more particularly has for its object to effect, by the use of the said process and apparatus, a conditioning of the yarn with respect to its moisture content, but in its broader application the invention may involve a treatment to effect the dyeing or tinting of the yarn, the presence of desired chemical or plastic binders in the yarn for binding together or otherwise treating the fibers, the presence of disinfecting, mildew or moth-preventing chemicals therein, or various other effects.

The invention involves the progressive formation of the yarn from at least one spun strand and at least one roving strand which is drafted during the formation of the yarn and the progressive application of the treating fluid to the spun strand simultaneously with the drafting of the roving strand, and then. the progressive twisting together of the thus treated spun strand and the drafted strand thus progressively to form the yarn in the properly treated or conditioned state.

It is now recognized in the textile art that, after yarn is spun and before it can be utilized in subsequent operations such as weaving and knitting, it must be subjected to some form of conditioning treatment. Yarn, after'it is spun, is apt to untwist and kink'in subsequent operations, and to prevent this, it must be set or stabilized. Furthermore, it is essential to economical and efilcient handling of the yarn in such subsequent operations as weaving and knitting and the operations incident thereto, that the yarn shall contain a definite amount of moisture. The general practice has been to cond tion the yarn after it is in package form, as when wound upon a bobbin, cone or spool, and to effect this conditioning by placing these yarn packages in a chamber and subjecting them for varying periods of time to moisture and heat, and in the effort to approximate uniformity of condition, provisions have been made for admitting the heat and moisture to the center of the packagesas well as to the exterior.

The present invention, as contrasted with conditioning of a completed or finished yarn or the conditioning of yarn wound up in package form, resides in the conditioning of the yarn progressively as it is being formed and more particularly by applying the conditioning moisture to "the heart or center of'the yarn as it is being gressively over and in contact with a smooth heated surface, the temperature of which is under constant control. Furthermore, the twisting mechanism runs at high speed so that the yarn is bodily revolved at high speed, and thus centrifugal force is exerted upon the moisture content.

The invention has for its further object to.

iron or embed projecting fibers into the surface of the yarn and thus cause the yarn to present a smooth even surface.

The invention further has for its object to correlate the amount of moisture supplied to the spun strand, the amount of heat delivered by the heated surface to the yarn, and the speed with which the yarn travels, thus to enable the finished yarn to contain a predetermined amount of moisture.

The invention involves the progressive formation of the. yarn from a plurality of strands. The conditioning moisture is applied to at least one of these strands which may be of any suitable character to enter into the composition of the yarn, that is, it may be spun, i. e., of a character ready for twisting with the other strand or strands, or it may be roving, i. e., of a character requiring drafting before such twisting.

, The unconditioned strand component, whether composed of one or more strands, is of a character requiringdrafting and acquires the conditioned state as the result of being combined with the moistened strand component. In the preferred embodiment illustrated herein, the

yarn is formed from two strand components.

One strand component consists of a spun strand which is progressively moistened, while the other strand component consists of two roving strands. The drafting operation takes place simultaneously upon all the strand components which require drafting. In the illustrated case, since only one strand component requires drafting, the drafting operation takes place only there upon. But since the invention has been found to render it possible to draft combined rovings, one of which is moistened and one of which is not moistened, the invention in its broader aspects does not exclude the drafting of the moistened strand component provided it is combined with an unmoistened strand component simultaneously drafted. The essential feature is that the final conditioned state of the yarn is the result of moisture progressively applied during the yarn formation to only one strand component, whether consisting of one or more strands, and imparted therefrom to the other strand component, whether consisting of one or more strands, as and after they are brought together in the yarn forming operation.

These and other objects and features of the invention will appear more fully from the accompanying description and drawings and will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

The drawings illustrate a simple and preferred form of apparatus embodying the invention and for carrying out the process of the invention as applied to the conditioning of yarn with a liquid such as water. The invention is shown as embodied in an ordinary type of cap spinning frame, and as the general construction and operation of such a spinning frame is well known and'familiar to those skilled in the art, it is only necessary here to illustrate so much thereof as is necessary to a disclosure of the invention. Only one unit of the spinning mechanism is illustrated, but it will be understood that these units are repeated at both sides of the frame and through out the length thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view partially in side elevation and partially in vertical section of a portion of the spinning frame with a construction embodying the invention included therein.

Fig. 2 is a diagram of an arrangement of wiring employed in connection with the heating units.

Fig. 3 is a detail chiefly in side elevation illustrating' the moistening tank and the drive for the moisture applying rollers.

Fig. 4 is a detail in side elevation illustrating the moistening tank and the moisture applying rollers.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation partially broken away illustrating the moistening tank and the drive and rollers as arranged for a plurality of units.

Fig. 6 is a view in central vertical section illustrating a heating unit and its supporting means.

Fig. '7 is a view partially broken away of a plurality of heating units, looking in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a view in cross-section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

The spinning frame illustrated is of a standard type of cap spinning frame and is shown as employing three strands in the formation of the yarn. The drafting mechanism comprises a set of front and back drafting rolls. The lower front roll 1 is mounted on a shaft 2 driven in the usual manner. while the top front roll 3 rests upon the lower roll I. The back drafting rolls 4 and 5 are mounted and driven in the usual manner, and between the back and front drafting rolls there is provided the usual series of carrier rolls 6. The strands which go to form the yarn are mounted in package form in the usual manner at the center of the frame. As illustrated, these are shown as bobbin 1, spool 8, and a package 9, each mounted for rotation on a suitable spindle or support. The corresponding yam strands 1s, 8s and 98 pass through the usual comb-like guide Ill. The high speed twisting apparatus is of the cap type, the bobbin upon which the finished yarn is wound being indicatedat II and the cap at I2. Since these mechanisms are all well known and familiar, they need no further description.

It will be understood that they are repeated throughout the length of the frame at each side thereof. Usually the repetition is more or less in groups; that is, for example, in groups of eight units.

In the construction illustrated, the moisture is applied in the conditioning of the yarn in the form of liquid. For that purpose, a tank [3 is supported by a, bracket H from a suitable girder I5 of the frame and extends along in the rear of the guide ID. This tank preferably extends the entire length of the frame, but may be divided into sections. A shaft l6 extends longitudinally of the moistening tank and has secured thereto a moistening roller 11, there being one such roller for each spinning unit. Thus, each moistening roller is journaled horizontally in the tank for partial immersion in the liquid. A pressure roller I8 is mounted to rest upon and thus by its weight press against each moistening roller, and the degree of pressure may be adjusted by varying the weight of this pressure roller or by any other suitable means. Each pressure roller II is rotatable on an axis parallel with that of the moistening roller. This axis is shown as a stud I9 forming a bearing for the pressure roller, and this stud is mounted for movement concentrically with the axis of the moistening roller. For this purpose, the stud I9 is shown as carried by an arm 20 pivoted at 2| to an arm 22 pivoted on the shaft IS. A link 23 is pivoted at its forward end to the arm 22 and at its rear end passes through a lug 24 on the moistening tank. The rear end of this link is threaded and provided with nuts 25, one at each side of the lug 24. Thus, by adjusting the nuts, the angular position of the bearing of pressure roller l8 concentrically of the moistening roller is bodily adjusted. The bearing for the pressure roller is located at one side only: that is, the arm 20 is only at one side of the pressure roller l8, so that the strand of yarn may readily be inserted between the pressure roller and the moistening roller. The position of these rollers on the shaft I6 is determined by the collars 26.

It will be seen that the extent of the periphery of the moistening roller l1 engaged by a. yarn strand, and consequently the amount of moisture transferred from the moistening roller to the strand, will be controlled by the position of the pressure roller l8.

The amount of moisture transferred to the strand will also be controlled by the speed at which the moistening roller is driven. In the construction illustrated, the moistening roller is driven from the driven top back drafting roll 5 by a sprocket chain 21 extending to a sprocket Wheel 28. This sprocket wheel rotates with a pinion 29 and both are journaled upon a stud 30 vertically adjustable in the support 3|. The

pinion 29 engages a gear 32 mounted on the shaft IS. The speed of rotation of the shaft l6, and consequently of the moistening roller I1, is therefore variable by changing the size of the pinion 29 and adjusting the stud 3D correspondingly on the support.

The heating elements are illustrated as of the electric type and are disposed at the front of the frame in about the position of the usual thread board, with one heating element for each spinning unit. These heating elements are shown as mounted upon an angle bar 33 having an upstanding inclined flange 34 and suitably supported at the front of the frame. The heating element is shown as comprising a ceramic core 35 around which is coiled a resistance wire 36 having its terminals secured to the projecting plugs 31. A steel or suitable metal casing 3B fits over this core, with interposed insulation 33 of mica or other suitable material. The outer orclosed end of the casing 38 is provided with a smooth groove 40. Suitable receptacles, to which the electric circuit is connected, are provided in the flange 34 to receive the terminal plugs 31. For this purpose, there are shown sleeves 4| insulated from the flange 34, and to these sleeves are clamped, by means of nuts 42 threaded thereon, the circuit wires 43. The heating units, when plugged in position, are preferably clamped in place by the sleeve clamps 44 secured at 45 to the flange 34 and provided with clamping bolts 45. A suitable casing 41, cut away at the top and bottom as indicated at 48 and open at the ends thus to provide ventilation, extends along and is secured to the flange 34. Such a casing is preferably provided for each group of heating elements and acts to protect the heating elements and guard the operator from contact therewith.

It is important that the heating elements shall be maintained at a predetermined required temperature in order to transfer the required amount of heat to the traveling twisting yarn. It is important; therefore, for the operator to be advised if any heating element is burnt out or falls below the required temperature. The invention therefore provides a telltale to indicate when this takes place. Such a telltale may be provided for each heating element or for a group of heating elements. It will usually be suflicient to provide such a device'for a group, say eight for example, of heating elements, and the device will then act to advise the operator that some one of the group has fallen below the required temperature, and it will be an easy matter for the operator then to determine which one of the group has burnt out or fallen below the required temperature and to replace it with a. new element. The telltale here disclosed is a small lamp 43 mounted on the casing 41, and this lamp is arranged in an electric circuit containing thermostatically controlled switches, one for each heating element. Such a switch is illustrated in Fig. 8 and comprises a contact screw 50 adjustable in a support mounted upon and insulated from the flange 34 and held in adjusted position by the lock nut 52, and also comprises a bimetallic contact element 53 insulated from and secured at 54 to the sleeve clamps 44 of the heating element. The arrangement is such that, if the temperature of the heating element falls below a degree determined by the setting of the contact screw 50, the bimetall c element 53 will swing into engagement with the screw 50 close the electric circuit and light the lamp.

A simple and practical arrangement for supplying electric current to the series of heating elements and to the lamp circuit from an ordinary ..house lighting current is illustrated d agrammatically in Fig. 2. In the diagram. two heating units are illustrated. The main current enters by the wires 55 and 55, and by means of a transformer 51 produces a current with the required voltage in the circuit 55 in which the heating elements 35 are arranged in parallel by the connections 43. By means of a second transformer 59, the current is transformed into a current of low voltage in the lamp circuit. The lamp circuit is shown as extending from the ground 50 through the transformer 59 and the lamp 4! to the ground 6!, with the switch elements 55, 53 inserted in parellel in the circuit. Consequently, whenever a bimetallic element 53 engages its contact 50, the lamp circuit is closed.

The main current may obviously be connected in any suitable manner and is shown as extending from a suitable receptacle 52 on the frame through a connection 63 ta a desired point on the flange 34.

The yam may be composed of strands of the a same or of different fibers and of two or more strands. One of these strands is assumed to be a spun strand, that is, a strand which in the formation of the yarn at this stage does not require drafting, while the other strand or strands is or are of the character which do require drafting and which are therefore assumed to be roving strands. In connection with the apparatus illustrated, provision is made for three strands. The spun strand 9s is, for example, assumed to be a spun cotton strand carried by the package 3. The spool 8 is assumed to carry a mohair roving 8s and the bobbin 1 a. cotton roving Is.

In accordance with the preferred form of the invention illustrated, the treating by the fluid, which in this case is assumed to be water, is applied only to tLe spun strand and is thus carried directly into the heart of the finished yarn and is transmitted during the formation of the yarn from the spun strand to the other strand or strands, thus thoroughly permeating the yarn.

The spun strand 93 runs through a suitable guide on the ledge 64, through the moistening device and thence directly to the nip of the front drafting rolls I, 3, passing through the guide HI and over a bar 65, which thus deflects the strand above the back drafting rolls. Thus, this strand is moistened, but not drafted. The strand 3s, in passing through the moistening device, as shown in Fig. 4, passes under the pressure roller l8 and engages a predetermined extent of the periphery of the moistening roller l'l, depending upon the angular position of the pressure roller I8 as determined by the adjusted position. Thus, the spun strand in its travel is progressively supplied with auniform and predetermined amount of moisture, and this moisture is pressed into the strand, thus thoroughly to permeate it, by the pressure roller 18.

The mohair roving strand 8s passes through a guide on the ledge 54 and thence through the back and front drafting rolls and is thus drafted in the usual manner. Similarly, the cotton roving is passes over a guide bar 66 and thence through the drafting rolls and is also drafted in the usual manner. Thus it will be seen that neither roving passes through the moistening device, but is guided above the moistening device in its passage to the drafting rolls. Thus the roving strands are simultaneously and progressively drafted as the spun strand is progressively moistened.

The strands emerge from the nip of the front drafting rolls, pass over the heating or ironing device to the spinning mechanism, and are thus progressively twisted together to form the resulting yarn while this yarn is traveling and twisting in contact with the ironing or heated surface of the heating element.

The heating element, acting upon the yarn while it is traveling and twisting, acts to iron into the surface of the yarn and embed therein projecting fibers and thus to smooth the surface of the yarn. The temperature of this heating element is also under control, as already pointed out, and is so regulated as partially to dry the yarn and thus regulate its moisture content. Furthermore, the yarn, during its traveling and twisting after passing the ironing or heating device, is being revolved bodily at high speed, and the centrifugal action which results acts further; to limit the moisture content and to cool the yarn. i

It will be seen that provision is made for regulating the amount of moisture applied to the spun strand, for regulating the speed of the travel of the yarn by varying the speed of the spinning mechanism employed, and for regulating the amount of heat transmitted from the ironing or heating element. Consequently, the invention provides for correlating the amount of moisture supplied to the spun strand, the amount of heat delivered to the heated surface and to th traveling yarn, with the speed of the yarn travel to secure a definite and predetermined condition, while at the same time the twist is set, projecting fibers are embedded and the surface of the yarn smoothened.

The fluid, whether liquid or in other form, and whether water or other material, is carried directly into the heart of the finished yarn and thus a thorough impregnation of the yarn is effected. When a single roving strand, as for example a mohair or other similar fiber, is employed, the spinning operation may be arranged to cause the mohair roving entirely to envelop the spun strand, which thus becomes a core strand, but since the moisture is applied to this spun or core strand, it passes therefrom to the enveloping strand, and thus thoroughly penneates the yarn.

The invention enables a uniform predetermined amount of moisture to be placed in and throughout the yarn in each unit length so thatthe treatment or conditioning is uniform throughout. The ironing operation by the smooth heated surface of the heating element takes place while the yarn is still moist and is, therefore, most effective in binding in or embedding projecting fibers, with the result that not only is the yarn smooth and even, but waste due to fly is materially eliminated.

Yarn formed and conditioned in accordance with the principle of this invention is, when finished, cooled, stabilized and set and may be immediately employed for filling in the weaving operation or for any other purpose. The moisture supplied to the yarn, pressed in, with the yarn dried and cooled, results in a yarn conditioning equal to weeks or months of an aging period by the natural method.

While the apparatus disclosed as a specific embodiment of the invention is designed for the use of a liquid such as water, the broader principles of the invention, as already pointed out, apply to any form of fluid suitable for or required for the treatment of yarn and within the scope of the process may be employed in the form of vapor or liquid. The treating fluid may therefore be composed of or include a chemical disinfectant for the purpose of killing spores or preventing mildew, and furthermore, the drying and cooling provided remove the conditions of internal heat and moisture which are conducive to the growth of mildew and which are often present when yarn is conditioned in the package form. So, also, the treating fluid may be of a character required to tint or dye the yarn, as for example, by employing a proper tinting or dyeing color in the moistening bath. Again, the

treating fluid may comprise chemical or plastic binders, as for example, in the moistening liquid for the purpose of binding in the fibers or for obtaining other desirable effects in the yarn or the fabrics formed therefrom.

The invention in its broader aspects, as pointed out at the outset, does not exclude the drafting of the moistened strand component provided it is combined with an unmoistened strand component simultaneously drafted, since, in effecting conditioning, an essential feature is that the final conditioned state of the yarn is the result of moisture progressively applied during the yarn formation to the core portion and of controlling the amount of moisture so applied so that a predetermined amount of moisture is transmitted throughout the remainder of the yarn to bring the entire yarn to a predetermined condition of moisture content. Thus during the formation of the yarn the conditioning moisture is disclosed as progressively applied to only one strand component, whether consisting of one or more strands, and imparted therefrom to the other strand component, whether consisting of one or more strands, as and after they are brought together in the yarn forming operation.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. The process of forming and conditioning yarn which comprises progressively moistening a spun strand, simultaneously and progressively drafting a roving strand progressively twisting the moistened strand and the drafted strand and passing the resulting yarn while travelling and twisting in contact with a heated surface.

2. The process of forming and conditioning yarn which comprises progressively moistening a spun strand, simultaneously and progressively, drafting a roving strand, progressively twisting the moistened strand and the drafted strand and passing the resulting yarn while travelling and twisting in contact with a smooth heated surface to bring the yarn to a predetermined conditioned state and to iron in the surface fibres.

3. The process of forming and conditioning yarn which comprises progressively moistening a spun strand, simultaneously and progressively drafting a roving strand, progressively twisting the moistened strand and the drafted strand. passing the resulting yarn while travelling and twisting in contact with a smooth heated sur- .face, correlating the amount of moisture supplied to the spun strand, the amount of heat delivered by the heated surface and the speed of the yarn travel to cause the finished yarn to contain a predetermined amount of moisture.

4. The process of forming and conditioning yarn which comprises progressively moistening a spun strand, simultaneously and progressively drafting a roving strand, progressively twisting the moistened strand and the drafted strand, passing the resulting yarn while travelling and twisting in contact with a smooth heated surface, correlating the amount of moisture supplied to the spun strand, the amount of heat delivered by the heated surface and the speed of the yarn travel to set the twist and condition the yarn for use as'filling in weaving.

5. The process of forming and conditioning yarn which comprises progressively moistening a spun strand, simultaneously and progressively drafting a roving strand, progressively twisting the moistened strand and the drafted strand. passing the resulting yarn while travelling and twisting in contact with a smooth heated surface, correlating the amount of moisture supplied to the spun strand, the amount of heat delivered by the heated surface and the speed of the yarn travel to set the twist, condition the yarn, smoothen its surface and embed projecting fibres therein.

6. The process of forming and conditionin yam which comprises progressively moistening a spun strand, simultaneously and progressively drafting a roving strand, progressively twistin the moistened strand and the drafted strand, passing the resultin yarn while travelling and twisting in contact with a heated surface, and further drying and cooling the yarn by revolving the twisting yarn at high speed to effect centrifugal action.

7. The process of forming and conditioning yarn which comprises progressively moistening a spun core strand, simultaneously and progressively 'drafting a roving strand, and progressively twisting the moistened core strand and the drafted roving strand to cause the latter to envelope the former and thus place the moisture in the heart of the yarn.

8. The process of forming and conditioning yarn as defined in claim 7, together with the step of passing the resulting yarn while travelling and twisting in contact with a heated surface.

9. The process of forming and conditioning a mixed animal and cotton fibre yarn, which comprises progressively moistening a spun strand of cotton fibre, simultaneously and progressively drafting a roving strand of animal fibre, and progressively twisting the moistened strand and the drafted roving strand with the latter enveloping the former.

10. The process of forming and conditioning yarn as defined in claim 9, together with the step of passing the resulting yam while travelling and twisting in contact with a smooth heated surface to control the moisture content and to iron in projecting fibres.

11. The process of forming and conditioning yarn which comprises progressively twisting together a uniformly moistened spun strand and a dry, freshly drafted strand, thereby transmitting moisture from the former to the latter and in hot ironing the twisting yarn while still moist to smooth itssurface and embed projecting fibres therein.

12. The process of forming and conditioning a mixed animal and cotton fibre yarn which comprises progressively moistening a spun strand of cotton fibre, simultaneously and progressively drafting a roving strand of animal fibre and a roving strand of cotton fibre, and progressively twisting the moistened strand and the drafted strands together. v

13. The process of forming and conditioning a mixed animal and cotton fibre yarn as defined in claim 12, together with .the step of passing the resulting yarn while travelling and twisting over a smooth heated surface to control the moisture content and to iron in projecting fibres.

14. The process of conditioning yarn which comprises progressively applying moisture to the core portion of the yarn during the formation of the yarn andcontrolling the amount of said moisture applied to the core portion so that a prede termined amount of moisture is transmitted throughout the remainder of the yarn to bring the entire yarn to a predetermined condition of moisture content.

15. The process of conditioning yarn which comprises progressively pressing into the core portion of the yarn during the formation of the yarn a uniform predetermined amount of moisture per unit length, transmitting moisture from the thus moistened core portion to the remainder of the yarn durin its formation, and subiecting the yarn during the twisting in its formation first to hot ironing and then to cooling to cause the completed yarn to present a predetermined condition.

16. A yarn spinning and conditioning mechanism comprising a set of front and back drafting rolls, means for progressively supphiing a uniform amount of moisture to a spun strand and guiding the said strand directly to the nip of the front rolls, means for guiding a roving strand to the back rolls and thence to the front rolls to draft the said roving strand, means for twisting the strands together as they emerge from the front rolls, and means for applying heat to and ironing the twisted yarn as it is formed acting to reduce the moisture in the yarn and smooth the surface.

1'7. A yarn spinning and conditioning mechanism having the construction and operation defined in claim 16, in which the yarn, after passing the heat applying and ironing means, is revolved at a high speed to coolthe yarn and further reduce the moisture therein.

18. A yarn spinning and conditioning mechanism comprising the construction and operation defined in claim 16, in which the means for applying heat to and ironing the twisted yarn comprises an ironing element having a smooth surfacedgroove through and against which the yarn travels, and an electric resistance within said element for heating said groove.

19. A yarn spinning and conditioning mechanism comprising the construction and operation definedin claim 16, in which the means forapplying heat to and ironing the twisted yarn comprises an ironing element having a smooth surfaced groove through and against which the yarn travels, an electric resistance within said element for heating said groove, 8. thermostatic element controlled by the heat and a telltale actuated by the thermostatic element to indicate reduction in the temperature of the ironing element below a predetermined degree.

20. A yarn spinning and conditioning mecha nism comprising moisture-applying means, a set of front and back drafting rolls, a smooth surfaced heated element, a high speed twisting mechanism, means for guiding a spun strand through the moisture-applying means, over the back drafting rolls, through the front drafting rolls and against the smoothed surfaced heated element to the twisting mechanism, and means for guiding a second strand over the moistureapplying means through the. back drafting rolls and thence through the front drafting rolls, and against the smooth surfaced heated element to the twisting mechanism.

21. A yarn conditioning and spinning mechanism having the construction and operation dcfined in claim 20, together with means for indicating reduction of the temperature of the heated element below a predetermined degree.

22. A yarn spinning and conditioning mechanism comprising moisture-applying means, a set of front and back drafting rolls, a smooth surfaced heated element, a high speed twisting mechanism, means for guiding a spun strand through the moisture-applying means, over the back drafting rolls, through the front drafting rolls and against the smooth surfaced heated element to the twisting mechanism, means for guiding a plurality of roving strands over the moisture-applying-means, through the back and front drafting rolls and against the smooth surfaced heated element to the twisting mechanism with all the strands twisting together while passing over the heated element, the said twisting mechanism acting to revolve the yarn bodily after passing the heated element to reduce the moisture content by centrifugal action.

23. A yarn spinning and conditioning mecha nism comprising a set of front and back drafting rolls, a tank for containing a mcistening liquid, a moistening roller journalled horizontally in the tank for partial immersion in the liquid, a pressure roller resting upon the moistening roller and rotatable on an axis parallel to that of the moistening roller, means for bodily adjusting the relative position of the roller axes while maintaining the rollers in pressing relation, means for guiding a spun strand between the said rollers and from thence directly to the nip of the front drafting rolls, means for guiding a roving strand to the back drafting rolls and thence to the front drafting rolls to draft the said strand, and means for twisting the strands together as they emerge from the front rolls.

24. A yarn spinning and conditioning mechanism comprising a set of front and back drafting rolls, a tank for containing a moistening liquid, a moistening roller journalled horizontally in the tank for partial immersion in the liquid, a freely rotatable pressure roller resting upon the moistening roller, and means for rotating the moistening roller from a driven back drafting roll.

25. A moisture supplying means for a yarn conditioning mechanism comprising a. tank for containing a moistening liquid, a moistening roller journalled horizontally in the tank for partial immersion in the liquid, a pressure roller resting upon the moistening roller and rotatable on an axis parallel to that of the moistening roller, and means for bodily adjusting the relative position of the roller axes while maintaining the rollers in pressing relation to adjust the extent of the moistened periphery of the moistening roller engaged by a strand passing between the rollers.

26. A moisture supplying means for yarn conditioning mechanism comprising a tank for containing a moistening liquid, 2. moistening roller journalled horizontally in the tank for partial immersion in the liquid, a pressure roller resting upon the moistening roller, a bearing for the pressure roller mounted for movement concentrically with the axis of the moistening roller, and means for adjusting the angular position of said bearing thus to adjust the extent of the moistened periphery of the moistening roller engaged by a strand passing between the rollers.

27. A moisture supplying means for a yarn conditioning mechanism having the construction and operation defined in claim 26, in which the bearing for the pressure roller is located at one side only thereof to enable the strand readily to be inserted laterally between the rollers.

28. A yarn spinning and conditioning mechanism comprising a set of front and back drafting rolls, a tank for containing a moistening liquid,

a molstening roller journaled horizontally in the tank for partial immersion in the liquid, means for rotating the moistening roller from a driven back drafting roll, and means for adiusting the speed at which the moistening roller is rotated by said means.

29. The process of forming and treating yarn which comprises progressively applying a treating fluid to a spun strand, simultaneously drafting.

a roving strand, progressively twisting the treated strand and the drafted strand. passing the resulting yarn while traveling and twisting in contact with a heated surface, and correlating the amount of fluid supplied to the spun strand, the amount of heat delivered by the heated surface and the speed of the yarn travel to cause the resultant yarn to present a predetermined effect from the treating fluid.

30. The process of forming and treating yarn which comprises progressively applying a treating fluid to a spun strand, simultaneously drafting a roving strand, and progressively twisting together said treated and said drafted strands to cause the treating fluid to permeate the resulting yarn.

31. The process of forming and treating yam which comprises progressively applying a treating fluid to a spun strand, in forcing by pressure the treating fluid into said strand, simultaneously drafting a roving strand, and progressively twisting together said treated and said drafted strands to cause the treating fluid to permeate the resulting yarn.

32. The process of forming and treating yarn which comprises progressively applying a treating fluid to a spun strand, simultaneously drafting a roving strand, progressively twisting together said treated and said drafted strands to cause the treating fluid to permeate the resulting yarn, and applying heat to the resulting yarn while travelling and twisting to modify the effect of the treating fluid.

33. The process of forming and treating yarn which comprises progressively applying a treating fluid to a spun strand, simultaneously drafting a roving strand, progressively twisting together said treated and said drafted strands to cause the treating fluid to permeate the resulting yarn, and passing the resultin yarn while travelling and twisting over a smooth heated surface acting to iron in projecting fibres and to modify the effect of the treating fluid.

34. The process of forming and treating yarn which comprises progressively applying a treating fiuid to a spun strand, in forcing by pressure the treating fluid into said strand, simultaneously drafting a roving strand, progressively twisting together said treated and said drafted strands to cause the treating fluid to permeate the resulting yarn, and passing the resulting yarn while travelling and twisting over a smooth heated surface acting to iron in projecting fibres and to modify the effect of the treating fluid.

35. The process of forming and treating yarn in a continuous operation which comprises in sequence the following steps, progressively applying a treating fluid to one strand component only, drafting the strands requiring drafting, progressively twisting the strands. and passing the resulting product while traveling and twisting in contact with a heated surface: and in correlating the amount of fluid supplied, the amount of heat delivered by the heated surface, and the speed of travel to cause the resultant product to present a predetermined effect from the treating fluid.

36. The process of forming and treating yarn in a continuous operation which comprises in sequence the following steps, progressively applying a. treating fluid to one strand component only, drafting the strands requiring drafting, and progressively twisting together the strands to cause the treating fluid to permeate the resulting yarn.

37. The process of forming and treating yarn in a continuous operation which comprises in sequence the following steps, progressively applying and forcing by pressure a treating fluid into one strand component only, drafting the strands requiring drafting, and progressively twisting together the strands to cause the treating fluid to permeate the resulting yarn.

38. The process of forming and treating yarn in a continuous operation which comprises in 20 sequence the following steps, progressively applying a treating fluid to one strand component only, drafting the strands requiring drafting, progressively twisting together the strands to cause the treating fluid to permeate the resulting yarn, and applying heat to the resulting yarn while traveling and twisting to modify the effect of the treating fluid.

39. The process of forming and treating yarn in a continuous operation which comprises in sequence the following steps, progressively applying a treating fluid to one strand component only, drafting the strands requiring drafting, progressively twisting together the strands to cause the treating fluid to permeate the resulting yarn, and passing the resulting yarn while traveling and twisting over a smooth heated surface acting to iron in projecting fibers and to modify the efiect of the treating fluid.

LLOYD C. GREENE. 

